Functional Morphology
What is Functional Morphology? Quite simply, it is the study of organism structure (i.e., anatomy) and function (e.g., how it works in a particular context). Understanding the basic structure and function of organisms is one of the oldest areas of research pertaining to the natural world. We are, quite simply, fascinated with how animals work. Research in our Lab (Take a Lab Tour!) is centered around understanding function in an ecological or historical (evolutionary) context.
Dr. Lara Ferry, PI, Professor
Follow Lara on LinkedIn, twitter and find papers on Google Scholar, or on our site, and learn more about me.
Bea Ronan, MS, Lab Technician
Bea oversees much of our work relating to high-speed video data collection and estimation of bite force. Bea is also completing her MS.
Dr. David Shiffman, Postdoc/Research Affiliate
David is based at the ASU DC center and focuses on shark conservation biology and policy. Follow David on twitter and Southern Fried Science.
Sarah Handy, PhD Student
Sarah's work examines the ventilatory mechanics of sharks and how environmental stressors can be detected through physiological measurements.
Sarika Sawant, MS student
Sarika has studied bite force via modeling in Pacific sleeper sharks and is expanding her work to include studies of stress in sharks.
Margaret Devossier, TRAIN scholar, BS student
Margaret works on studies of monkfish and estimated jaw closing (bite) forces.
Jamie Tsou, BS student
Jamie works on captive sturgeon at the Odysea Aquarium, and is studying respiration and stress in this species.
Monica Lopez, BS student
Project coming soon! Stay tuned.
Valeria Bernal, BS student
Project coming soon! Stay tuned
Congrats to our newest lab alum, Taylor Levy, MS! Taylor looked at the intramandibular joint in kissing gourami.
If you are interested in our research, or even joining our lab, we invite you to peruse our page with helpful tips and resources! Please know that we are not only pro-diversity, but we are also actively anti-sexist and anti-racist in our lab. Everyone has the basic right to learn and to be supported in that endeavor without fear, discrimination, or artificial barriers placed in their way. Actions that oppose these ideals will not be tolerated in our lab, or towards any of our lab members in any environment.
How to find us: ASU at the West Campus, building CLCC L1-46
See us on YouTube: Behind the Lab Door
Contact: E-mail:Lara.Ferry@asu.edu | twitter:@LaraFerry